Readers’ Letters – March 2024

Our readers regularly send us messages and emails regarding Lanzarote, here are some of your thoughts that we printed in the March edition.

Readers are reminded that views and comments expressed within the Ed’s Postbag page are those of the contributors and may not necessarily reflect the opinions or standpoint of our staff. It should also be noted that we are an independent publication free from political persuasion or governmental censorship

We publish your letters! Have something you want to say or something to get off your chest? Send your letters to editorial@gazettelife.com to have your thoughts featured.

THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE

Dear Gazette,

What’s the point of a bandstand without music? We returned to Costa Teguise at Christmas to be told that the local council had banned live music in the square years ago (Pueblo Marinero). We were told it was because of complaints by residents, but what do the miserable so-and-sos expect?

Maybe people have forgotten how nice it was there, but we haven’t.

Denny and Jane Ellis

CLEAN-UP ORZOLA

Dear Gazette,

We first came to Lanzarote in 2016, but since December 2020. We now stay for three months in beautiful Órzola. This year, however, we noticed the path from the beach back to Órzola is being used as a toilet, with discarded wet wipes and worse!

I know people get “caught short” but this is truly disgusting. People are ruining the beautiful Caletón Blanco beach. We used to see clean-up people on the beaches here. Do they still come?

Deborah Feighan

Ed: Caletón Blanco is no longer a secret, Deborah – it gets more crowded every year, and it’s becoming clear that Haría will soon have to address the resulting problems that arise.

CAREFUL ON THE BUSES

Dear Editor,

I’d like to add some important information to your guide to catching buses in the February issue.

My husband recently experienced a terrible incident on the No. 30 bus in Playa Blanca. We did exactly as you said whilst boarding the bus, but unfortunately you forgot to mention that occasionally the bus driver will start your journey before you have actually had time to take your seats. In our case, the driver accelerated and braked, causing my husband to lose his grip on the handrail. He was thrown backwards and hit the back of his head on the floor of the bus. After a night in Arrecife hospital and 2 CT scans he was discharged to finish our holiday with concussion.

I would not wish this experience on anybody. It ruined our holiday. Please be careful and hold on very tight and sit down as quick as you can.

Jen Burman

VOTING PROBLEMS

Dear Sir, Regarding the changes allowing British citizens living overseas to vote. I exchanged emails with my old local council before a previous General Election. The authorities in the UK will not send out the voting papers until ten days before the election. They send them by second class post which takes a week to get here. If you post the paperwork back to the UK on the same day you received it, your vote will arrive too late.

I asked the official if they could email the voting paper, but they will not.

Terry Culligan

Ed: You’re not the only one to complain about delayed voting papers in previous elections, Terry. Let’s hope the UK authorities sort it out next time. It’s also possible to vote by proxy, which may solve the problem.